Life & Wisdom Quote by Mike Wilson

“Consolidation” lands here as a polite euphemism for a creative ecosystem being quietly strip-mined. Mike Wilson’s phrasing is deliberately calm, almost managerial, but the urgency leaks through: “rush,” “stake in the ground,” “ensure.” He’s speaking from inside an industry where acquisitions don’t just rearrange balance sheets; they reorganize power, lock up IP, and narrow the range of risks that get funded. The line is less nostalgia for some indie golden age than a hard-eyed response to market gravity.

The intent is strategic: justify the formation of “the Gathering” as infrastructure, not ideology. By calling consolidation “isn’t new,” Wilson preempts the eye-roll that follows every “the sky is falling” warning. Then he pivots to why this moment is different: consolidation has become a dominant force shaping outcomes, so independence needs coordination to survive. “Solid path” reads like a promise to developers who fear the usual binary choice: get bought or burn out.

The subtext is about bargaining power and dignity. “On their own terms” is a quiet indictment of the terms currently offered - milestone pressure, IP surrender, sequel mandates, the slow erosion of studio identity. “Build their own companies” is telling: he’s not only advocating for individual projects, but for durable institutions that can outlast a hit. The Gathering, framed this way, becomes a collective counterweight: a bid to make independence something more than a romantic label, and instead a viable business posture in an industry that keeps trying to make everything legible to a parent company.